Articles by Utopia Support

Seabed mining taskforce mooted

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Local

Cabinet has approved putting together a taskforce from government agencies and the private sector to create a seabed mining policy. A seabed minerals commissioner, who has yet to be named, will be appointed to head the seabed mining authority advisory board. The advisory board will be tasked with creating a timetable and mapping out what […]

Party Tumu vows to grow stronger

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Local

Former CIP MP Albert Nicholas is vowing his controversial new party will grow stronger despite having to change its name just two weeks after it was formed. The party is now called the Party Tumu following the court decision to ban anyone other than the Cook Islands Party from using its name. Yesterday CI News […]

Let's look for a solution

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Someone once said that “if you are able to state a problem it can be solved” and that’s just what the Minister of Finance did. For weeks he had been telling anyone who cares to listen about his difficult tasks of avoiding or minimising his budget deficit. Along came two “strayed” fishing boats […]

What have I done to deserve this?

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On the basis of allegations made by a convicted criminal, Junior Areai, I had the misfortune, in April 2008, to be charged in the Cook Islands longest running criminal trial. That man, Junior Areai was given immunity by the Crown so that he would give evidence against me – and lie even further. […]

Kata - July 22, 2010

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Who else needed a loan?

Thursday 22 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to a letter to the editor yesterday from Business Trade Investment Board member Mataauri Ruta titled ‘Don’t crucify father and son’, a smoke signaller texts in some questions: “Is the writer asking the public to overlook and at the same time condone the collective actions of the Maoates? Big deal if they qualified […]

Transparency a TIS priority

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Environment

Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) programme manager, Jacqui Evans, says transparency and accountability are values that have always been held in high regard by the society. “TIS has a good track record of this,” Evans said. She is organising the 15th Annual General Meeting for the environmental society which will be held this afternoon. “We advertise […]

Red Cross offers holiday learning

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Environment

The Cook Islands Red Cross is offering a school holiday programme packed with learning for kids 9-13 years old. Not only will kids taking part get to become Junior Red Cross members, they will learn more about healthy lifestyles, climate change, being prepared for disasters and emerging diseases. “This idea came about from seeing children […]

Eggelton opens forum

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Environment

Minister of the Environment Cassey Eggelton gave the opening address at the second National Environment Forum yesterday. The last one was in 2004. Eggelton said the forum was not called to satisfy overseas donors, or to point the finger of blame. She asked forum attendees to instead focus over the next three days on coming […]

Arioka challenges minister to take lead

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Environment

Vaine Arioka has challenged Environment Minister Cassey Eggelton to take the lead on the National Environment Strategy Agreement Framework (NESAF). Speaking at the first day of the National Environmental Forum yesterday, Arioka also said that the aims needed to be realistic and measurable this time round. For any of the aims to be met, she […]

Mining moves

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Local

Cabinet has agreed to a two-speed approach to a new seabed mineral regime, according to Trevor Pitt, advisor to Prime Minister Jim Marurai One side of the approach will involve looking at putting infrastructure in place for mining. Pitt said that this would continue at a slow and steady pace. But a more fast track […]

PM leaves to be at son's side

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Jim Marurai was due to fly out last night to be with his son who is in a serious condition in hospital in Auckland. Jason Marurai, 38, was flown to New Zealand for emergency medical care on Monday morning. Police reported that Marurai was found unconscious early Sunday morning on the road in […]

All go for Expo

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Local

Enuamanu College, Atiu students are in Rarotonga for tomorrow’s Careers Expo and are keen to learn about jobs and careers they can get into that will help their people back home. Check out the special 12-page Expo supplement in today’s Cook Islands News. 10071907

CIP to confirm candidates soon

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Party has just five of the 24 parliamentary seats to confirm election candidates for in its bid to prepare early for this year’s general election. The CIP is moving swiftly to complete its candidate selections and candidates for the remaining punas of Ivirua, Pukapuka, Mitiaro, Manihiki, Rakahanga, should soon be formally confirmed […]

Parliament called to sit

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Local

Much anticipated Budget set to be tabled at next week’s sitting Parliament will sit next Thursday for tabling of the national Budget. Prime Minister Jim Marurai issued notice to the Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin yesterday of the July 29 sitting at which government hopes to table the much anticipated Budget prepared under the new […]

Thoughtless tourists not wanted

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Rea: Plea for more convenient flights. Your published letter from a Doug May in Australia shows exactly what we ordinary Aitutakians do not like in the attitudes of many a tourist coming here. He knows exactly (from what he writes) that there are many Aitutakians who oppose any commercial flights in or out […]

Don't crucify father and son

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The big crowd was shouting “crucify him, crucify him”. This happened in a courtroom two thousand years ago. The shouting is still being heard here today but instead of ‘him’ now it’s ‘them’. “Crucify them crucify them”. On the front page of the Cook Islands News on Saturday, July 17 two gentlemen, a […]

Kata - July 21, 2010

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Kata

A growing billboard island

Wednesday 21 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Another smoke signaller has voiced their concern over the number of billboards being plastered around Rarotonga lately, “especially those big ones advertising Highland Paradise and also the new yellow taxi signs. You can’t see the trees anymore because of all these boards, some of which are so big and ugly. On the roadside outside the […]

PM's son flown to NZ

Tuesday 20 July 2010 | Published in Local

The son of Prime Minister Jim Marurai was flown to New Zealand yesterday in a serious condition after coming off his motorbike early on Sunday morning. Jason Marurai, 38, was found at 12.25am on Sunday unconscious on the main road in front of Super Brown supermarket at Kiikii. Police refused to name him yesterday but […]